• Running the Right Way - PhillyFIT Magazine

BeforeA home health aide, Clara assists the elderly and those with disabilities.“My medical problems caused me to miss a lot of work,” says Clara.“Since I’ve lost the weight, I feel like a new person and I very rarely getsick. The disabled and elderly people I work for can count on me to bethere for them.”Growing up, Clara was never an athlete. Her weight and medical problemsmade her avoid the gym. However, regular exercise has beenshown to improve blood glucose control, reduce cardiovascular risk factors,and improve wellbeing. “I never went to a gym in my life beforemy surgery at Mercy Suburban,” admits Clara. “I’ve always struggledwith my weight. I avoided the gym and hated to have my photo takenbecause I didn’t want anyone to see how big I was.” With the help ofexercise, Clara is not afraid to wear a tight-fitting dress. She has lostnearly eighty pounds and is down to a size 11/12.Exercise after bariatric surgery is critical for effective weight lossweight loss. When you lose weight rapidly, you lose muscle. Exercise isa safe and effective way of maintaining lean body mass. In addition tomaintaining your metabolism and facilitating healthy weight loss, physicalactivity improves mood and reduces stress.Today, Clara is a proud member of Retro Fitness in East Norriton. Sheworks out with a personal trainer, uses the treadmill and lifts weights.“I feel better and have more energy,” says Clara about her inspirationalweight loss. “Going to the gym makes me feel good and it hasimproved my health and given me a positive self-image.”BeforeAfterAfterpounds and was considered morbidly obese. Her weight problems werethe result of an underactive thyroid that was diagnosed at age twentysix.From then on, she struggled to lose weight, trying all types ofdiets, from Weight Watchers and holistic methods to acupuncture. Nomatter how little Kim ate, the pounds still piled on. Her weight causedher to suffer from high blood pressure and high liver enzymes. She alsobecame insulin resistant and was on the road to diabetes.“Because of my slow metabolism, it was a struggle for me to loseweight,” says Kim. “All my siblings were thin. I was the only one whowas different.” Finally, her doctors at Mercy Suburban Hospital recommendedweight loss surgery. Kim agreed and since her surgery in June2012, Kim has lost nearly one hundred pounds and her medical problemshave disappeared.Kim keeps active with yoga, weight lifting and walking. She takesZumba classes at the Ballroom on Star in Pottstown and aqua aerobicsclasses at Methacton High School in Fairview Village.Sharon MillsAge: 48Height: 5’4”Before Weight: 247 poundsAfter Weight: 166 poundsBefore Size: 18After Size: 6BMI: 26Residence: Pottstown, PAAfter a car accident left her disabled, Sharon was unable to exercise andcould barely go up and down steps without severe pain. Not only didshe have several herniated discs in her back, but she was also plaguedby other medical problems, including asthma, sleep apnea and highblood pressure. Sharon decided to have weight loss surgery to help hershed weight and alleviate her other ailments. Just one month after thesurgery, all of her medical problems disappeared, with the exception ofthe herniated discs.After a loss of over eighty pounds, Sharon feels better about herself andis able to keep up with her two-year-old and four-year-old grandchildren.Although Sharon is not able to do strenuous exercise because ofher back, she enjoys walking outside on a regular basis.Sharon has also modified her diet, avoiding soda and sugar upon theadvice of the Mercy Suburban Hospital dietician. She is a big proponentof water, drinking lots of water to stay hydrated. “My goal is to maintaina healthy lifestyle now that I’ve lost the weight,” says Sharon. “Ioften leave my car at home and walk to the store instead of driving.”Keith Allen Kreitz, M.D. is a Board-Certified General and Bariatric Surgeon at Mercy SuburbanHospital in East Norriton, PA. He is a member of the American Medical Society and a member ofthe American College of Surgeons. Passionate about weight loss, Dr. Kreitz is dedicated to thesuccess of all of his weight loss patients and uses minimally invasive techniques to ensure the bestpossible outcomes. After graduating from MCP/Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Dr.Kreitz completed his graduate medical training at Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he received theResident Teacher of the Year award. In his final year, he served as the Chief Resident in Surgery.For more information on weight loss surgery at Mercy Suburban Hospital, call (610) 292-6833.Kim HuxleyAge: 44Height: 6’2”Before Weight: 369 poundsAfter Weight: 275 poundsBefore Size: 28After Size: 20BMI: 35Residence: Eagleville, PAJob: Administrative Secretary, Hospice VolunteerA statuesque 6’2”, Kim always carried her weight well. Even at herlargest, none of her friends or family realized that Kim weighed 369BeforeAfterMay/June I 267-767-4205 I www.phillyfit.comPhillyFIT I 33